Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Caroline Haines, Chris Byers and Pam Hampshire

There were none.

To receive the Order of the Court of Common Council dated 15 April 2021 appointing the Committee and setting its Terms of Reference.

Members received the Order of the Court of Common Council dated 15 April 2021  appointing the Committee and approving its terms of reference.

To elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No.29.

In accordance with Standing Order No.29, the Committee proceeded to elect a Chairman for the ensuing year. The Town Clerk stated the Members that had expressed an interest and Anne Fairweather, being the only Member expressing her willingness to serve, was duly elected as Chair.

The Chair thanked Members for their support and took the opportunity to welcome new Members Jason Pritchard and Pam Hampshire to the Committee and thanked Deputy Edward Lord and Ruby Sayed for their contributions.

To elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 30.

The Committee proceeded to elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 30. The Town Clerk stated the Members that had expressed an interest and William Upton, being the only Member expressing his willingness to serve, was duly elected as Deputy Chairman.

The Chair thanked the outgoing Deputy Chairman for her invaluable knowledge and experience that she provided to the role and these thanks were echoed by other Members.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Members considered a report of the Town Clerk regarding appointments to Committees and Groups for 2021/22.

RESOLVED, that:-

·         The terms of reference and composition of the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee be noted;

·         The terms of reference and composition of both the Highgate Wood Consultative Group and the Queen’s Park Consultative Group be approved;

·         The Chair and Deputy Chairman to be appointed to the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee.

·         John Tomlinson be appointed to the Highgate Wood Consultative Group, and the further two vacancies be deferred until the next meeting of the Grand Committee for appointment;

·         John Tomlinson and Karina Dostalova be appointed to the Queen’s Park Consultative Group, and the further one vacancy be deferred until the next meeting of the Grand Committee for appointment;

·         John Tomlinson be appointed to serve on the Keats House Consultative Committee with the Chair to also attend in an ex officio capacity;

·         The Chair be appointed to attend to observe Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee meetings in an ex officio capacity.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 24 February 2021.

RESOLVED, that the public minutes of the meeting held on 26 May 2021 were approved as a correct record.

To receive the draft public minutes of the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee meeting held on 19 April 2021.

The draft public minutes of the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee (HHCC) meeting held on 19 April 2021 were received.

To receive the draft public minutes of the Highgate Wood Consultative Group meeting held on 21 April 2021.

The draft public minutes of the Highgate Wood Consultative Group (HWCG) meeting held on 21 April 2021 were received.

To receive the draft public minutes of the Queen's Park Consultative Group meeting held on 21 April 2021.

The draft public minutes of the Queen’s Park Consultative Group (QPCG) meeting held on 21 April 2021 were received.

Member of the Heath Team to be heard.

Members were informed that the Senior Swimming Facilities Supervisor was unable to attend and would provide an update at the next HHCC meeting.

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

Members considered a report of the Superintendent providing an update on matters concerning Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park. The following points were made:

·         The Superintendent advised that the main issue for staff was the coronavirus response, and they were currently planning for the 21 June lift in restrictions. It was hoped that Government would provide further information on facemasks, etc.

·         With regards to AWP project work, Members were advised that the Conservation and Ecology Plan presented at the last meeting had been reviewed with a focus on recovery and Officers sought support for three annual projects which were approved.

·         A Member noted that text had been dropped from 2017 Drones Policy which explicitly stated at the beginning that use of drones was prohibited in almost all circumstances and were only allowed in very unusual circumstances, e.g. medical crises. Members felt the Policy needed sharpening up due to opaque language and Officers agreed to strengthen the opening position.

·         Officers advised that the Comptroller plus legal Counsel were working with Epping Forest on prospective injunction orders following ASB last summer. It was noted that High Court was not prepared to grant injunctions against unknown people and were not convinced by the evidence from last summer that there was an imminent threat for this summer. Officers were holding off doing the same for the Heath pending feedback from the Epping Forest court application.

·         A Member was supportive of a Delegated Authority and enquired if rough sleeping and the illegal use of drones could be included in the injunction.

·         Most Members, particularly the Deputy Chairman, were not supportive of injunction orders against unknown people which was felt to be against the law and basic rights. Members agreed they should only use powers in instances of genuine need and regarded the High

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

Members considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces concerning the Hampstead Heath Bathing Pond and Lido Annual Report 2020-21.

The Superintendent provided background on the challenging year and updates to the process. It was noted that the City Corporation had been served a further legal letter on 18 May from the KLPA and a response was sent on 20 May 2021. The KLPA were now crowdfunding for legal costs. Member noted the remarkable achievement to open up the ponds as soon as they could and implement necessary safety requirements.

The Chair highlighted that the Committee’s agreed pricing policy on 11 March predated the lockdowns and subsidy, but the Corporation had continued to support swimming as much as it could.

With regards to the legal response to the KLPA, a Member stated that the Corporation needed to make savings and would have to make concessions in other ways, e.g. closures, if charging was not an option.

The Corporation had tried hard to maintain the level of service, and the review of the 2019 season looked at safety and the whole operation. Only charging would allow for this ever-popular service to continue.

RESOLVED – That Members:-

·         Members approve the Hampstead Heath Bathing Pond and Lido Annual Report 2020-21 (appendix 1);

·         Members agree the proposal to re-introduce swimming tests at the Bathing Ponds as set out in para 4;

·         Members agree the proposals to retain the current Free Morning Swim arrangements, as set out in para 6;

·         Members agree the proposals to retain the current Season Ticket arrangements and to undertake a further review as set out in paras 8 and 9;

·         Members agree the proposal for free and discounted swimming opportunities as set out in para 11.

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

Members considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces concerning the Hampstead Heath Bathing Pond and Lido Annual Report 2020-21.

Officers noted an error in paragraph 11 which included a replication of risk 004 and instead of stating risk 002.

RESOLVED – That Members:-

·         Note the report;

·         Approve the Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park Risk Register (Appendix 2).

Joint report of the Chamberlain and Director of Open Spaces.

Members considered a joint report of the Chamberlain and Director of Open Spaces presenting the Hampstead Heath Trustee’s Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements for the Year ended 31 March 2020 in the format required by the Charity Commission.

Officers confirmed over £6.2m of City’s cash was used to support the Charity during this financial year. It was noted that in April, the Finance Committee approved changes to the financial regulations meaning charities were now able to ringfence funds for their own projects. The Chair was pleased as this would open up opportunities for the Heath.

RESOLVED – That the Trustee’s Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements for the 2019/20 be noted.

Joint report of the Chamberlain and Director of Open Spaces.

Members considered a joint report of the Chamberlain and Director of Open Spaces presenting the Highgate Wood & Queen’s Park Kilburn Trustee’s Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements for the Year ended 31 March 2020 in the format required by the Charity Commission.

Officers confirmed over £1.3m of City’s cash was used to support the Charity during this financial year and that fundraising had already begun.

RESOLVED – That the Trustee’s Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements for the 2019/20 be noted.

Joint report of the Chamberlain and Director of Open Spaces.

Members considered a joint report of the Chamberlain and Director of Open Spaces comparing the revenue outturn for the services overseen by the Committee in 2020/21 with the final agreed budget for the year. In total, there was a better than expected budget position of £130,000 for the services compared with the final agreed budget for the year.

Officers confirmed there was a Directors local risk marginal overspend by £3k which would be subsumed in the overall underspend.

In response to a query concerning rents for cafes and whether support for them during the pandemic had an impact on the overall figures, Officers confirmed it did impact but it was a difficult situation. Support was also given to health workers for parking, swimming and cafes. The Superintendent acknowledged the huge amount of work undertaken by Managers and the Team to reduce spend and increase costs to achieve a budget almost on target.

Members commended the Superintendent and Team for their hard work throughout the year to maintain services, plus the support from the wider City Corporation.

RESOLVED – That this revenue outturn report for 2020/21 is noted.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Members received a report of the Town Clerk advising Members of action taken by the Town Clerk under urgency or delegated authority in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chair since the last meeting of the Committee, in accordance with Standing Orders No. 41 (a) and (b).

RECEIVED.

There were none.

The Chair advised the Committee that after 30 years at the Corporation, the Superintendent was retiring and would be leaving in August so this would be his last meeting. Members gave sincere thanks to the Superintendent for all the great work he had achieved during his tenure and he would be greatly missed.